Sports
Stars to tame Zimbabwe
Serbian Coach Milovan Rajevac will be seeking a bright start to life as Black Stars coach when he begins his second spell in charge with a must-win FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifier against Zimbabwe today at the Cape Coast Stadium.
Coach ‘Milo’ was re-engaged by Ghana last month to revive the Stars slipping World Cup dream, more than a decade after quitting the job in 2010, having guided the team to a quarter-final berth at the Mundial in South Africa that year.
The Stars in recent outings have been abysmal but a jerky 1-0 win over Ethiopia and a subsequent 1-0 defeat to South Africa in Johannesburg in their first two opening games raised a furore that led the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to hand former Stars captain CK Akonnor the sack.
Milo, whose return has stirred mixed feelings among the football community with a section displeased about how he ditched the Stars in 2010, would be aiming for a positive start to life against the ‘Warriors’ to bolster the Stars waning confidence.
The Stars lie second in Group G with three points, behind South Africa’s four points and therefore need a big win to revive their campaign whiles also setting a winning tone for a reverse fixture of the Group G affair in Harare, three days later.
Milo, however, be wary of the fact that the Stars are yet to defeat the Warriors in three meetings, having lost two and drawn one. But fortunately, he has an assembly of his top players who he would be seeking to build his team around.
Captain Dede Ayew and brother Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey of Arsenal, Kudus Mohammed of Ajax Amsterdam, Leicester City’s Daniel Amartey and Reading defensive duo, Baba Rahman and Boakye Yiadom are all available for selection.
Luckily, he also has a burgeoning pool of talent in Rennes youngster, Kamaldeen Suleymana, Russia-based Joel Fameyeh, Yaw Yeboah, Anderlecht’s Majeed Ashimeru and returnee strikers Caleb Ekuban of Genoa and Malatyaspor of Turkey’s Benjamin Tetteh who would be eyeing performances that would cement their place.
Just like their Ghanaian counterparts, the Warriors have shaken their technical team with the interim appointment of former international, Norman Mapeza, to replace Croatian Zdravko Logarusic after placing bottom of the group with one point from their two opening fixtures.
Mapeza, presented with a difficult task would, however lead his charges comprising key figures captain Knowledge Musona, Aston Villa’s Marvellous Nakamba, Jordan Zemura of Bournemouth and Brendan Galloway to continue their good run against the Black Stars.
BY NANA BENTSI ODURO
Sports
Black Starlets arrives in Morocco on U-17 AFCON mission …FA boss charges team to make Ghana proud
The Black Starlets, the national U-17 male team, have safely arrived in Casablanca ahead of the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The team departed Accra on Wednesday, travelling with a 35-man contingent made up of 21 players and 14 officials, all focused on delivering a strong campaign on the continental stage.
They completed a smooth five-hour flight to Morocco, where final preparations will continue before the tournament kicks off.
The technical team is expected to fine-tune tactics and build cohesion among the squad as they gear up for the competition.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Mr Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, was present at the Accra International Airport to bid farewell to the team.
Speaking during a brief farewell at the Airport, the FA President urged the team to carry a ‘never say die’ spirit into the competition.
President Simeon-Okraku emphasised the importance of mental strength and unity, particularly in difficult moments during matches. His message was inspired by the team’s recent friendly encounters against Cote d’Ivoire, where they bounced back strongly after an initial defeat.
“I’m very happy that when you lost to Cote d’Ivoire in your first game during your friendly matches, you were able to bounce back—not only to dominate but to outscore them in the second game,” he said. “I read a lot of meaning into that, and I want all of you to keep that in your heads—that, it’s not over until it’s all over,” he added.
The FA president stressed that the ability to respond positively to setbacks would be crucial in a tournament as competitive as the AFCON.
He encouraged the players to stay united and support one another when the pressure intensifies on the continental stage.
“When the chips are down, that’s when we need to hold each other together,” Okraku added. “So go out there and make Ghana proud.”
Ghana will compete in Group D alongside Algeria, Senegal, and South Africa, with their opening match scheduled for Thursday, May 14.
Twenty-three (23) players have been called up for this month’s international friendly against Mexico.
The squad is composed of star players from the domestic league and European leagues who are closely monitored by Coach Carlos Queiroz, as well as U-23 players who will soon represent Ghana in the upcoming Olympic Games qualifiers.
Notable names include Majeed Ashimeru, Felix Afena-Gyan, Razak Simpson, and Birmingham City’s Ibrahim Osman.
Ashimeru returns to action after a long spell on the sidelines due to a muscle injury that limited his appearances at both club and national level.
Also in the team is Felix Afena-Gyan, whose last appearance for Ghana was in May last year when he featured against Trinidad and Tobago in the Unity Cup in London.
Barcelona B’s Abdul Aziz Issah, Ebenezer Annan of AS Saint-Étienne, Ibrahim Osman of Birmingham City, and Paul Reverson of Ajax FC have also been included in the squad.
Midfielder Salim Adams, one of the key players for Ghana Premier League leaders Medeama SC, leads the group of home-based players.
Others are Heart of Lions’ Ebenezer Abban, Ebenezer Adade of Dreams FC, and Nations FC captain Razak Simpson. Ghana will travel to Mexico for the international friendly on Friday, May 22, 2026.
